Towering proposal to build Birmingham’s urban jungle

Garden Hill in Birmingham would comprise two 25-storey towers with planted terraces, allowing the 500 residents access to green spaceArchitects of Invention

Birmingham could soon get its own version of the hanging gardens of Babylon after plans were submitted for a pair of soaring tree-covered towers, the first of its kind in Britain.

Designed by Architects of Invention, the new scheme, intended for Digbeth, a creative area east of the centre, would comprise two 25-storey towers with planted terraces, allowing each of the 500 residents access to green space.

Garden Hill is intended to appeal to international students and could be built entirely of cross-laminated timber to boost its environmentally-friendly image. It has already been funded with £70 million from a Chinese private equity company, Prosperous Global China Capital.

The plan is part of a trend for buildings covered by trees. At the forefront is Stefano Boeri,…

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